JAMES Milner has warned his Villa teammates that Chelsea will hit them for six if they treat the champions with too much respect.

Villa were taught a footballing lesson when they backed off Manchester United before Christmas but then got stuck into Arsenal on New Year's Eve.

And teenager Milner says a similar approach will be needed on Wednesday.

"Everyone knows how good Chelsea are - they've got an unbelievable squad and a great manager and they're playing out of their skin.

"But we know we can beat anyone on our day with the players we've got, if we play well. Hopefully we've turned a corner at Villa Park and we can make it a difficult place to come.

"When I've played for other clubs, I've always found Villa Park a difficult place to get results."

Sixth bottom Villa are a staggering 36 points behind the leaders who sit 14 clear at the top of the table.

Milner said: "We know how tight the league is but if we can do that in the second half of the season, we can push on.

"Our current position isn't that great, but if you look at the teams above us, a couple of wins would put us into the top half of the table.

"We've got to take one game at a time and put in as many good performances as we can.

"We've got some good quality here and quality coming back into the team, hopefully we can work hard, put them on the back foot and under pressure early doors then who knows what will happen?"

Chelsea have drawn their last two fixtures, against Charlton and Everton, but Milner discards any thoughts they are becoming complacent.

"If you think Chelsea are having a dip in form, they'll stick six past you because they've got that quality," he said. "People say they're not playing that well, but they're still winning games. That's what good teams do - get results when they're not playing that well.

"So we know it's going to be a tough game but we'll work hard and prepare well and try and get them on the back foot early doors." Milner says Villa must hassle and harry all around the pitch to try to stop Chelsea from playing.

"We know Chelsea are a great team and we'll respect them. But we won't respect them too much because if you stand off them, they'll murder you. They'll pass it around you and with the players they've got, they'll score goals."